Weber looking for better effort vs. Ohio State

Throughout his first four seasons as Illinois coach, Bruce Weber could always count on two things from his basketball teams:

1. Spirited and passionate play;

2. Homecourt dominance.

Regardless of their talent level, the Illini always played hard for Weber. And entering this season, Illinois owned a 56-5 record at the Assembly Hall with Weber on the sidelines.

In a span of just two weeks, however, both orange-painted cornerstones have begun to show cracks. Illinois has dropped two of its last three home games, both to midmajors (Miami University and Tennessee State), and posted its worst pre-conference record (8-5) since 1997-98.

More unsettling, though, is how the Illini lost to Tennessee State, a point Weber hammered home as his team prepared to open Big Ten play tonight against Ohio State (7 p.m., ESPN).

"We didn't get them ready to play hard," Weber said Wednesday. "That's what we've always taken pride in, in any program I've been associated with. … We are not an offensive juggernaut. We all know that. So you've got to accept what you are and you've got to play within your limits and with your strengths. Your strength is athleticism, your intensity, your defense and your rebounding. We did not make the most of it.

"That's what we've focused on."

Illinois likely will take the court without a player who reflects all the strengths Weber outlined. Senior forward Brian Randle is doubtful for the game after sustaining a mild concussion Sunday against Tennessee State.

Randle, third on the team in both scoring (10.5 ppg) and rebounding (5.2 rpg), did some light shooting Tuesday and continues to receive therapy for what Weber described as whiplash-like injuries. The 6-foot-8 Randle took an inadvertent elbow to his face on a rebounding attempt late in the first half. Then, as he fell to the court, a Tennessee State player accidentally kicked him in the back of his head.

"He got it in the front and then he got it in the back," Weber said. "That's why he got the stiffness in his neck and then the upper back, shoulder area."

Weber said there is a better chance Randle will play Sunday against Penn State.

Tonight, Weber will rotate Mike Davis, Rodney Alexander and Calvin Brock at Randle's spot.

Center Shaun Pruitt will need help inside against Ohio State freshman center Kosta Koufos, who ranks sixth in the league in scoring (15.6) and seventh in rebounding (7.1). But Weber is more concerned with the Buckeyes' backcourt, particularly senior Jamar Butler, who is back at point guard after yielding to Mike Conley Jr. last year.

Butler leads the Big Ten in assists (5.67).

"He controls their team," Weber said. "They do a lot of ball-screening, the (Phoenix) Suns stuff and just spread you. … It's going to be key how we contain Butler and get to the other shooters."

Among the changes for the new-look Buckeyes this season is a zone defense that has held opponents to league lows in field-goal percentage (37.3) and 3-point shooting percentage (29.5). Weber said teams that play zone often struggle in Big Ten road games, but Illinois has yet to show it can consistently hit outside shots.

"It's been pretty effective: 3-2, they kind of match up with you," Weber said of Ohio State's zone. "They give you some perimeter shots and that's going to be key to the game for us.

"Every zone gives you something."

Ohio State (9-3) at Illinois (8-5)

When: 7 p.m. at the Assembly Hall

TV: ESPN

Radio: WIND 560-AM

The skinny: The Illini have lost three straight to Ohio State since beating the Buckeyes in the 2005 Big Ten opener at the Assembly Hall. Illinois coach Bruce Weber hopes the start of league play sparks his players, who have struggled at home. "It's a new year, it's a new season," Weber said. "Normally I'd say it's great we're playing at home, but so far this season, other than 15 minutes against Loyola (Md.), we haven't played great at home." Ohio State has won 16 consecutive games against Big Ten teams, including six straight on the road. Buckeyes freshman guard Jon Diebler has hit 60.9 percent of his 3-pointers in the last four games.

-- Adam Rittenberg